Coronavirus - (COVID-19)

We can all protect ourselves and others by following government advice around social distancing, shielding of extremely vulnerable people, and self isolating if we display any symptoms, no matter how mild.

If you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for 7 days, but all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

Source: NHS

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home. Read the advice about staying at home.

Use the NHS 111 online Coronavirus service if:

• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• your condition gets worse
• your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.

The Government is advising all those who are 70 years and over and those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) to be more stringent in following social distancing measures.

Students who have one or more of these characteristics, a weakened immune system, underlying health condition, or are pregnant should stay at home and notify your School.

The Government is advising all those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) to be more stringent in following social distancing measures. Please familiarise yourself with the guidance to protect yourself and others.

Student Services will be supporting students and colleagues via their normal online web, telephone and email services. 

We appreciate that many of you may have gone home or may be self-isolating at various points in the coming weeks and we want to ensure that we continue to support you during this time.

Our services include Disability Advice, Student Money, Student Wellbeing, and the Student Advice Hub.  If you’d just like someone to talk to or you’re unsure how these services might help you our Student Advice Hub is there to listen, advise or point you in the right direction.  You can call them on 0113 812 3000 or email studentadvicehub@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 

All our telephone lines will open as usual 09.00-17.00, Monday to Friday, and details for all teams can be found at our A-Z of Services and at the Student Hub.

It is really important that you keep your contact details in MyBeckett up to date to ensure we are able to support you during your online teaching period. 

Please ensure you continue to keep your ID card safe so that you can access services on campus once things return to normal. In the eventuality that you do require a replacement card you should contact the Student Advice Hub.

We understand that this situation is unsettling. Our Student Wellbeing Team continue to provide telephone support and counselling, and can also direct you to a range of self-help resources. Please go to the Student Wellbeing pages to find out more. 

In addition, the university offers an online counselling service via Kooth Student which is accessible during afternoons, evenings and weekends. To access the platform please sign up with Kooth Student directly.

Bereavement support is available to students via the Student Wellbeing Team and Chaplaincy. Visit our Student Wellbeing page for more information or contact us: studentwellbeing@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or 0113 8128507.

Our self-help page provides you with a range of information, resources and tools aimed at promoting your wellbeing. You can access this information alongside support you may already be receiving; or if you don’t feel ready to speak to someone but would like some further information on how to cope.

There are a number of helpful resources to help maintain mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak:

• The Government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Information on looking after your wellbeing as a result of COVID-19: Coronavirus mental health information hub
• Information and resources from Student Minds: Looking after your mental health
• The mental health foundation: Look after your mental health and wellbeing if you are staying home
• Getting creative whilst at home: Creative Isolation & Cove
• Leeds Beckett Student Union: Facebook community group for Corona virus
• NHS guide for looking after your mental health - Coronavirus and Wellbeing Every Mind Matters

Alongside using these resources we strongly encourage you to talk to your local doctor or appropriate health professional about any concerns you may have. The information provided in the resources are not a substitute for proper diagnosis or treatment by an appropriate health professional.

For guided self-help information on specific topics, please take a look at a collection of comprehensive self help guides developed by the NHS Foundation Trust.

If you have symptoms you need to stay at home and self-isolate for 7 days, it is important that everybody you share your living accommodation self-isolates for 14 days.

You should contact the university to make us aware if you are self-isolating. Please contact the Student Wellbeing Team and your Course Administrator. The Student Wellbeing team can be contacted on 0113 8128507 or via email studentwellbeing@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

If you live in university accommodation, you must inform the accommodation team on accommodation@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. Arrangements will be made to provide necessary pastoral and practical support.

Although you might not be able to entirely separate yourself from family members or flatmates, the advice is to limit contact as much as possible. You should follow the NHS guidance around reducing the spread of infection in your home.

If you are self-isolating and have symptoms it is important that everybody you share your living accommodation self-isolates for 14 days.

Yes. You must advise your Course Administrator and the Student Wellbeing team to inform them when you are planning to return to university following your period of self-isolation. 

Please contact the Student Wellbeing team on 0113 8128507 or email student.coronavirus@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

We encourage all students to do their best and to submit their assessments.

When examiners assess your work this year, they will make academic decisions based on your academic performance against the learning outcomes.   

Academic Board has agreed a schema, guidance and changes to the Academic Regulations to enable Leeds Beckett University to make appropriate academic decisions covering assessment, student progression and the award of academic credit and degrees on undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Further information on the approved COVID-19 pandemic arrangements (COVID-19 Response - Schema, Guidance and Regulations) and a factsheet for students (COVID-19 Response - Progression and Award Factsheet for Students) is available under Section 4 of our Academic Regulations here. 

Further information on mitigation is provided below in the FAQs.

All students have received up to four-weeks extension to all deadlines which were originally due or set between Monday 23 March and the end of the assessment period for their particular subject or School. This was in recognition of the potential impact of Covid-19 and to enable you to continue to complete your assessments.

New submission dates incorporated any extensions you had already been given by your course team, and are not in addition. That means if you already had a two-week extension to the original date of submission, this granted you an additional two weeks.

Your course team has reviewed their assessment requirements, and any deadlines that currently fall within the period, and will have notified you of the new submission dates.

It is recognised that circumstances may arise in which students are unable to complete or submit assessments. These are known as extenuating circumstances.

Students may submit details of their extenuating circumstances to request

• an extension to an assessment deadline (mitigation at the point of assessment); or
• apply for mitigation to lessen the harmful effect of their extenuating circumstances on assessment outcomes.

You are still entitled to submit individual requests for extenuating circumstances where you are seeking an extension to an assessment deadline or mitigation under our academic regulations (section 8).

In considering the assessment of students, the University will duly consider individual requests for mitigation due to extenuating circumstances which might have affected a student’s performance.

Extenuating Circumstances

We encourage all students to do their best and to submit their assessments.

If you have specific individual extenuating circumstances that are affecting you and you are unable to meet the extended deadlines you should advise us and submit a request for mitigation for these individual extenuating circumstances.

It is recognised that circumstances may arise in which students are unable to complete or submit assessments or may impact on students’ engagement with their studies and assessed work. These are known as Extenuating Circumstances.

If the submitted extenuating circumstances are found to be valid, mitigation in respect of these will be considered in accordance with the University Regulations.

Extenuating circumstances which may have affected the performance of a cohort of students will be presented to the relevant Progression and Award Board. Where the circumstances are deemed to warrant this, the marks of the entire cohort may be adjusted upwards.

In recognition of the potential impact of Covid-19, we will consider this as general extenuating circumstances which may have affected the cohort as a whole. This will permit Progression and Award Boards to consider mitigation where appropriate as “Category A” mitigation for all students, for the period of the COVID-19 measures, even if you have not applied for it. This does not affect the need to submit assessed work or undertake examinations.

If you have specific individual extenuating circumstances that are affecting you and you are unable to meet the extended deadlines you should advise us and submit a request for mitigation for these individual extenuating circumstances.

Extenuating Circumstances and Mitigation

You can apply for extensions to assessment deadlines (i.e. mitigation at the point of assessment), for mitigation (e.g. if you are unable to sit an examination due to illness) or an authorised absence if you have individual extenuating circumstances which are Covid-19 or non Covid-19 related. For example, this may apply if you are ill due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) or if you have other non Covid-19 extenuating circumstances.

You may wish to apply for mitigation relating to individual extenuating circumstances that may be affecting you due to other reasons, such as non Covid-19 related extenuating circumstances or for individual circumstances that specifically are impacting upon your engagement with your studies or your submission of assessments.

This may lead to consideration by the School in the following ways:

a) An extension to an assessment deadline, at the point of assessment; or
b) If an extension is not possible and you have extenuating circumstances which are affecting you then these may be taken into consideration by Progression and Award Boards for the application of mitigation when making academic decisions relating to progression and award.

As indicated above if you do not submit an assessment and have not without good cause provided us with information on extenuating circumstances, then normally this would result in a recording of a non-submission of assessment.

Categories of Mitigation

Mitigation is categorised in section 8.3.13 and 8.3.15 of our Academic Regulations according to the seriousness of extenuating circumstances as follows:

a) Category A – Very serious - Category A mitigation permits the Progression and Award Board to consider alternative forms of mitigation in their determination of academic judgments and decisions

b) Category B – Sufficiently serious to defer assessment

c) Rejected – the Panel will reject claims which are late, (not substantiated by original documentary evidence - not applicable in Covid-19 period) or are not deemed sufficiently serious to warrant deferral.

Role of Progression and Award Boards

If the submitted extenuating circumstances are found to be valid, mitigation in respect of these will be duly considered in accordance with the University Regulations.

The Progression and Award Board will also receive a report on all extensions to assessment deadlines granted at the point of assessment and all outcomes of requests for authorised absence granted.

The mitigation permitted by the Progression and Award Board will normally be deferral of assessment to permit the student to be assessed as if for the first time (Section 8.3.15 Academic Regulations).

In recognition of the potential impact of Covid-19, we will permit Progression and Award Boards to apply the highest level “Category A” mitigation to all students, for the period of the COVID-19 measures, even if you have not applied for it.

Extenuating circumstances which may have affected the performance of a cohort of students will be presented to the relevant Progression and Award Board. Where the circumstances are deemed to warrant this, the marks of the entire cohort may be adjusted upwards.

Category A mitigation permits the Progression and Award Board to consider alternative forms of mitigation in their determination of academic judgments and decisions (see section 8.3.15 of the Academic Regulations).

We encourage all students to do their best and to submit their assessments.

If you do not submit an assessment and have not without good cause provided us with information on extenuating circumstances, then normally this would result in a recording of a non-submission of assessment (see Sections 8.2.5 to 8.2.7 of the University’s Academic Regulations).

If you have not submitted assessments, this may mean that there may not be sufficient evidence that you have passed the learning outcomes of the level/award and may mean that you will need to complete further reassessments or could may result in other outcomes including failing the year.  This may also impact on your ability to evidence and meet any specific Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body requirements.

If you have specific individual extenuating circumstances that are affecting you and you are unable to meet the extended deadlines you should advise us and submit a request for mitigation for these individual extenuating circumstances.

Further information on mitigation is provided below in the FAQs.

You may apply for extensions, mitigation or authorised absence if you have specific extenuating circumstances that may be affecting your engagement with your studies or your assessment or examinations These may be Covid-19 related or other non-Covid circumstances.

We accept that it will be difficult to obtain evidence from a GP or health care professional given the Public Health England advice and current pressures on health services.

We have adapted our extenuating circumstances and mitigation request process to enable self-certification with an explanation of the circumstances affecting you. Please provide any evidence you are able to with your form.

View our revised extenuating circumstances and mitigation process on MyHub.

Our student fact sheet on the revised extenuating circumstances and mitigation process in the case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is available from Leeds Beckett University’s website.

Yes. We have encouraged and are supporting all students to continue with their studies and to submit all their assessed work.

Please be assured that should you fall ill with this virus and have to self-isolate, now, or at any time, we will make sure you do not suffer academic disadvantage. Students who are advised to self-isolate, or who are ill due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) can apply for mitigation or an authorised absence.

Yes. We are encouraging students who are being adversely affected by specific extenuating circumstances, whether COVID-19 related or otherwise to apply for mitigation if those circumstances will affect your performance or ability to complete/submit assessments or undertake examinations.

Existing Category A mitigation relating to your individual extenuating circumstances that has been accepted and predates Covid-19 will be taken into account by the Progression and Award Board for the relevant period or modules to which this applies.

In addition, there is a general award of Category A mitigation for all students from 23 March for the period of Covid-19 arrangements to recognise the specific extenuating circumstances caused by the virus which may have impacted on students’ performance.

Yes. Category B Mitigation will still apply. 

In addition, we will permit Progression and Award Boards to take into account the general extenuating circumstances relating to Covid-19 (Category A) to inform decisions relating to progression and award for the period of the Covid-10 measures, for all students, even if you have not applied for it.

No. Category B Mitigation will not be amended to Category A.

Any existing Category B mitigation relating to your individual circumstances that has been accepted and that predates Covid-19 will be taken into account by the Progression and Award Board for the relevant period or modules to which this applies. Generally, the award of Category B mitigation results in a deferral of your assessment to the next available opportunity with the full range of marks available.

In addition, we will permit Progression and Award Boards to take into account the general extenuating circumstances relating to Covid-19 (Category A) to inform decisions relating to progression and award for the period of the Covid-10 measures, for all students, even if you have not applied for it.  

Extensions to assessment deadlines due to mitigation at the point of assessment may also have been applied relating to extenuating circumstances including Covid-19 from 23rd March 2020 (see FAQ above on “can I have an extension”).

Yes, where the application of mitigation is permitted by the PSRB. This will need to take account of any specific PSRB requirements in respect of essential modules that must be successfully completed and passed, any requirement for a minimum passmark, skill or level of achievement or attendance or other PSRB related regulatory requirement.

Please contact your course director for more information.

Yes. The University needs to understand where you have specific extenuating circumstances so that appropriate mitigation can be defined. Normally, students will receive one mitigation outcome even if there are multiple extenuating circumstances in play (e.g. both personal and COVID-19 related).

Academic Board has agreed a schema, guidance and changes to the Academic Regulations to enable Leeds Beckett University to make appropriate academic decisions covering assessment, student progression and the award of academic credit and degrees on undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Progression and Award Boards will consider the Covid-19 general extenuating circumstances and any accepted specific individual extenuating circumstances requests to inform their academic decisions in respect of students’ assessments and achievement of the required learning outcomes, for progression and the award of credit or award.

Where Progression and Award Boards determine that in applying their academic judgement, they will permit mitigation under our academic regulations section 8.3.15 b) they may determine whether a student will be given the choice between accepting an allocated mark or being assessed again as if for the first time.

In recognition of the potential impact of Covid-19, we will permit Progression and Award Boards to apply the highest level “Category A” mitigation to all students, for the period of the COVID-19 measures, even if you have not applied for it.

Further information on the approved COVID-19 pandemic arrangements (COVID-19 Response - Schema, Guidance and Regulations) and a factsheet for students (COVID-19 Response - Progression and Award Factsheet for Students) is available under Section 4 of our Academic Regulations on the University’s website.

Following Government advice, we suspended face-to-face teaching to protect the health of staff and students.

Although face-to-face teaching has been suspended, we continue to support all our students to achieve their desired outcomes and ensure no-one is academically disadvantaged by the current situation caused by COVID-19. We have done this by mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and assessments by moving to online teaching, adapting assessments and introducing new guidelines for our mitigation process. We will therefore not be refunding tuition fees.

These changes have been made to protect students and staff and comply with government requirements, whilst continuing with your teaching, learning and assessment.  All the decisions that the university is making to respond to the changes COVID-19 has imposed on our lives are being made in your best interest, ensuring that you can progress your studies and earn a qualification that you are proud of, and that will be valued by employers and accrediting bodies.

We believe that the measures we’ve put in place ensure the ongoing delivery of your educational experience and outcome, but we recognise that there may be some students whose specific circumstances are such that they are not able to take advantage of the alternative measures that have been put in place. If you consider that you have been disadvantaged as a result of the actions that we have taken and wish to make a complaint, please complete the COVID-19 complaints form.

If you’re experiencing financial difficulties as a result of lockdown and the measures that have been taken, please contact our Money Advice Team. They’re here to provide advice on budgeting, managing debt and signposting potential sources of financial support.

A streamlined version of the student complaints procedure is in place to handle complaints relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19). You can find the complaint form and procedure on our student complaints page.

Michelle Donelan, Minister of State for Universities has written letters to students and international students.

If the current academic year for your course gets extended, meaning your course lasts longer than 30 weeks and 3 days Student Finance England will assess you to see if you qualify for a ‘Long Courses Loan’. However, if you are granted an extension that is individual to you, Student Finance England will use the original course length.

The Long Courses Loan is part of the Maintenance Loan, so to be eligible you must be getting the extra Maintenance Loan that depends on your household income.

The Student Loans Company has confirmed that students will receive their scheduled or next instalment of their Maintenance Loan as normal at the planned start of their summer term.

If you require any further information regarding student finance you can access our Student Money Advice webpage which has all of the latest guidance, tips and support available.

You can also find a list of FAQ’s on the Student Finance England website.

As on campus activity is not currently taking place, it is important you understand that your health and wellbeing and those of your fellow students is the first priority. As such, self-isolation / social distancing as stated by Public Health England is important and doing so will not harm you academically, nor will it impact on your Tier 4 visa. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has confirmed  that students will not be disadvantaged by the situation.

The Home Office has also set-up a helpline for students and international higher education if they have immigration queries related to coronavirus, including questions about urgent, compelling, compassionate cases where an international student or other visa national based abroad needs to travel to the UK. The helpline can only speak to the visa holder or applicant about individual cases. If a third party wishes to speak on their behalf, they must have the visa holder’s permission. Call 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, calls free of charge) or email CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk.

If you choose to return home,  please inform us so that we know of your whereabouts, and that you are safe. Therefore please keep your School and Student Immigration Advice & Compliance siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk informed if you do decide to travel. This will not lead to the cancellation of your visa.

Being unable to attend classes for any reasons connected with coronavirus will not lead to the cancellation of your visa. If you have any specific concerns, please contact Student Immigration Advice & Compliance on siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

Should you choose to return home due to the coronavirus outbreak, it is essential that you inform the University of your absence by emailing your Course Administrator and Course Tutor, copying in the Student Immigration Advice & Compliance Team on siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. Please include your name, student ID number and the date that you expect to return home.

Before travelling, please ensure that you check and carefully follow any government guidance of the country that you are travelling to, so as not to put yourself or others at unnecessary risk. Please also read the essential international travel guidance . If you’re due to travel to an area affected by coronavirus, ensure that you keep up-to-date with the latest information from your travel company or airline.

The University will remain supportive of its students in this position to the full extent of its capacity to do so. During your period of absence it is essential that you engage with your studies via your School’s arrangements for online provision and remain in good standing, as this is a requirement of your Tier 4 visa. If you have notified the above departments of your absence, you will not be penalised as a result. We can work together to ensure we minimise any impact on your visa.

Please refer to the Teaching and Learning FAQs. Schools are providing more detailed guidance.

No. Your absence will not be marked as unauthorised if you are unable to attend classes for any reason connected with coronavirus. UK Visas & Immigration has however stated that the university should make reasonable attempts to monitor your engagement. Due to this, your School may review on-line activity and assessment submissions in line with the new temporary guidance. In terms of physical attendance, UKVI recognises that the current situation is exceptional and will not take any compliance action against students who are unable to attend their studies due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The situation will be reviewed at the end of the semester, please keep up to date with university guidance on this webpage.

The UK Government has released new guidance confirming that all entrants to the UK must self-isolate for a 14 day period. Please ensure that you fully read the guidance on how to self-isolate. This includes information on how to travel to the place where you are self-isolating, how to self-isolate in your accommodation and what to do if you get coronavirus symptoms during the process.

Before travelling, you must provide your journey and accommodation details via the on-line form. You will need to show your completed form when you arrive at the UK border, either by printing a copy, or showing it on your phone.

From 15 June 2020, it will be compulsory to wear a face covering when using public transport in England. Social distancing measures are currently in place.

If you require any advice on booking accommodation, please contact our Accommodation Team on accommodation@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

We strongly advise any students planning to travel to areas affected by travel restrictions or heightened alerts to consider carefully whether that travel is essential.

Public Health England have provided updated guidance for UK students over the age of 18 travelling overseas during term breaks, or for placements and exchanges.

Please be assured that should you fall ill with this virus and have to self-isolate, now, or at any time, we will make sure you do not suffer academic disadvantage.

Please contact Student Immigration Advice & Compliance at siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

We will continue to review UKVI published guidance and update when able to do so.

Please be assured that should you fall ill with this virus and have to self-isolate, now, or at any time, we will make sure you do not suffer academic disadvantage.

The UK government updated its advice to advise that where commercial flight options are still available, all British travellers should return to the UK. International travel is becoming highly limited with the further closure of air routes, land borders and domestic restrictions introduced daily.

We urge you to follow the government’s advice and Leeds Beckett University will support your return.  Due to the high demand on a limited number of flights, insurance companies are finding it very difficult to make reservations on your behalf. Therefore we advise that you book your own flights and we will reimburse the costs to you through our insurance company when you return.

You should also be in regular contact with the Study Abroad who will be able to support and provide further guidance.

If you have no available funds to pay for your ticket, please email stafftravel@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. If there is a time difference or you need to contact someone immediately to return home, please call the university’s insurers Chubb Travel on +44(0) 2071737796 quoting Policy UKBBBO38106119 Leeds Beckett University. This can be done directly through the Chubb Travel Smart app.

In cases where a student has met the minimum duration for their Erasmus funding (two months for a work placement, three months for a study exchange) but has been repatriated early, students may be entitled to keep a larger share of the grant because of other costs which they may have incurred (typically travel and accommodation payments) or their specific circumstances.

In cases where students haven’t met the required minimum duration, students may also be entitled to keep a share of their grant (subject to approval by Erasmus+).

In cases where a student’s mobility is interrupted owing to university or host organisation closures, the Erasmus grant is still available for the duration of this closure.

The UK government updated its advice to advise that where commercial flight options are still available, all British travellers should return to the UK. International travel is becoming highly limited with the further closure of air routes, land borders and domestic restrictions introduced daily.

We urge you to follow the government’s advice and Leeds Beckett University will support your return.  Due to the high demand on a limited number of flights, insurance companies are finding it very difficult to make reservations on your behalf. Therefore we advise that you book your own flights and we will reimburse the costs to you through our insurance company when you return. 

If you have no available funds to pay for your ticket, please email stafftravel@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. If there is a time difference or you need to contact someone immediately to return home, please call the university’s insurers Chubb Travel on +44(0) 2071737796 quoting Policy UKBBBO38106119 Leeds Beckett University. This can be done directly through the Chubb Travel Smart app.

If you experience symptoms and need to self-isolate or are diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas, please report this to student.coronavirus@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

The UK government has updated its advice to advise that where commercial flight options are still available, all British travellers should return to the UK.  International travel is becoming highly limited with the further closure of air routes, land borders and domestic restrictions introduced daily.

We urge you to follow the government’s advice and Leeds Beckett University will support your return.  Due to the high demand on a limited number of flights, insurance companies are finding it very difficult to make reservations on your behalf . Therefore we advise that you book your own flights and we will reimburse the costs to you through our insurance company when you return. 

If you have no available funds to pay for your ticket, please email stafftravel@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. If there is a time difference or you need to contact someone immediately to return home, please call the university’s insurers Chubb Travel on +44(0) 2071737796 quoting Policy UKBBBO38106119 Leeds Beckett University. This can be done directly through the Chubb Travel Smart app.

On your return to the university, please contact your Course Administrator to discuss alternative arrangements so you can meet the learning outcomes of your programme.

No student will be disadvantaged academically by taking a decision to cut short their stay abroad and return home due to COVID-19.

Please follow the local advice provided by your host institution and country. You should also be in regular contact with the Study Abroad team who will be able to support and provide further guidance.

Please be assured that should you fall ill with this virus and have to self-isolate, now, or at any time, we will make sure you do not suffer academic disadvantage.

The health and wellbeing of all our students is our number one priority. We are continuing to monitor the situation and, at present, we are contacting students who are abroad, providing them with the information and guidance they need.

If you are in any of the affected areas and have not already been contacted by the university, please get in touch with the Study Abroad team / Outbound exchange: tel:+44 (0)113 812 3804.

The university’s insurers, Chubb, can be contacted on +44(0) 2071737796.

We encourage you to check the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) website for up to date information about travelling to the UK and to follow their advice.

It is very important to let your Course Administrator know you are currently abroad, and not able to return to the UK to continue your studies.

The Study Abroad team will inform your Course Director that are no longer able to study abroad. However, you will need to contact your course admin team to notify them that you will be joining your course here at Leeds Beckett in September.

If you are planning to stay in Leeds Beckett accommodation in the 20/21 academic year, then please contact the accommodation team on accommodation@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. They can support you in finding accommodation if needed.

If you have any questions about your exchange, please contact the Study Abroad team who will do their best to help and answer your questions on studyabroad@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

No, your student finance will not be affected and you will receive your usual loan and/or grant. If you have any concerns about your student finance, you can contact Student Finance England directly here.

We are hopeful that we will be able to offer summer school opportunities for the summer of 2021. If you are interested in hearing about these opportunities, please get in touch with the Study Abroad team on studyabroad@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

If this applies to you please contact the Study Abroad team by email (studyabroad@leedsbeckett.ac.uk) and we will do our best to help.

We hope to have our full range of Study Abroad opportunities available in 2021/22, and encourage you to regularly check the Study Abroad website for more details later in the current academic year.

Yes, although the university campuses are currently closed, we encourage you to keep working on your research. Most university services can be accessed online.  You can find details of the electronic resources available on The Library webpage.

Research students should continue to contact their supervisory team and supervisory meetings can be held via Skype or telephone.

If you lose contact with your supervisory team please email researchstudentadmin@leedsbeckett.ac.uk  or call 07387 232 962.

This does not apply to research students and we will be scheduling Confirmation of Registrations, Progressions and Vivas as normal. However we do recognise that this period will cause many students disruption and so will be dealing with extension and requests to delay meetings on a one to one basis. Please email researchstudentdmin@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

Yes, our research students must continue to contact their supervisory team and supervisory meetings can be held via Skype or telephone.

All students should have two supervisors, a Director of Studies and a supervisor. If you lose contact with your supervisory team please contact researchstudentadmin@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or call 07387 232 962.

Yes, these meetings will now take place online - we will contact you to arrange this. If you already have a date this will not change.

More information can be found on our webpages.

Please email researcherdevelopment@leedsbeckett.ac.uk regarding any training opportunities or training questions.

Yes, these meetings are now taking place online, we will contact you to arrange this. If you already have a date this will not change.

More information can be found on our webpages.

You must still check in with us twice a month but this can be done via email. The email should contain details of where you are and what you are working on.

More information can be found on our webpages.

No face to face data collection can take place at the moment and you should discuss a revised data collection approach or workplan with your supervisory team.

You should submit your thesis as normal by emailing it to researchstudentadmin@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. We do not require paper copies currently.

More information can be found on our webpages.

We recognise that this current situation will impact on our research students’ progress. You are encouraged to continue to work on your thesis as best as possible.

You should also keep a record of how the evolving situation impacts on your work and time-plan, where appropriate. Supervisory teams should be included in this discussion and it should be formally recorded in the supervisory meeting notes.

Please check our dedicated webpage on these protocols.

We have taken the difficult decision to postpone the graduation ceremonies scheduled for July to protect the health and wellbeing our students, their families, and our colleagues. Public Health England have advised that social distancing measures are likely to be in force for the next few months and that it would be unsafe to hold large events such as graduation.

We know how important graduation is to you and to your family so want to reassure you that this is a postponement and not a cancellation. We will reschedule the ceremonies as soon as we have confidence that they can go ahead safely and in keeping with the advice from the government and Public Health England.

Yes, it is important to note that there is a difference between graduating (being awarded your degree) and the graduation ceremony (the celebration event). You will still graduate when the Board of Examiners awards your degree.

All eligible students who complete their degree requirements will still become graduates of Leeds Beckett University. We will send your certificate to your home address so please make sure that your address is correct and up to date on MyBeckett. If you are unable to access your account, please contact the events team.

In order to reduce unnecessary social contact, your School has moved to online learning resources. Further information on teaching arrangements will be communicated by School staff. A substantial amount of your course content is available through MyBeckett so we would encourage you to use MyBeckett for self-study.

Apprenticeship funding rules allow for part-time study, so please contact your employer and Course Director to discuss how this can be arranged, along with how your 20% off the job training will be calculated and completed. Please note that part-time work will not be appropriate for some apprenticeships.

If you are unable to undertake the 20% off the job training as planned, please contact your employer and Course Director to discuss a possible break in learning and how you may restart your apprenticeship at a later date.

The university is currently planning to ensure that no student is disadvantaged in relation to the confirmation of assessment outcomes. Further information on this will be available soon and communicated to you.

The university and your employer will support you to ensure you are not disadvantaged with any changes to assessments on your apprenticeship. Please contact your employer and Course Director to discuss how this situation can be managed.

We are working to deliver assessments to take place remotely wherever possible. Your School will be in touch with you to confirm arrangements once they are finalised.

Any changes that are made are likely to be specific to your apprenticeship, please contact your Course Director to discuss how your new role meets the requirements of your apprenticeship.

In some cases, you may need to instigate a break in study from your apprenticeship.

Where apprentices are furloughed (granted a leave of absence) you are permitted to continue your training with the University as we are continuing to deliver this remotely.

For further information please visit the Furloughed apprentices – Apprenticeship Service Support webpage.

All student accommodation where Leeds Beckett University or Unipol is the landlord remains open. Students who have either a tenancy agreement with Leeds Beckett University or were referred by the University to enter into a tenancy agreement with Unipol should have received an email update regarding their final rent instalment for this academic year. If you haven’t received this email, please get in touch via email at accommodation@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

If you are self-isolating in private accommodation, and don’t have anyone who can help you, for example with delivering food or collecting prescriptions, help is available via Leeds City Council and Voluntary Action Leeds. Please visit https://www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus to access this support.

We're busy working on the plan to reopen our Library buildings, and to welcome you back on campus safely. This will happen in several stages with the health and safety of students and university staff as the most important factor.

The first stage was to make provision for you to return books on loan and you can now do that. The next is for Library staff to be back on campus, initially behind the scenes, to start up a "click and collect" service for you to borrow books in August (date to be confirmed). We'll then open the Libraries from 1 September for you to study by booking a space.

In the meantime we're working on movement routes, protocols for shared use of books and equipment, booking systems and safe staff working arrangements.

The Library service is still open online with the Library website giving you access to thousands of electronic resources and online help and support.

Colleagues and students will no longer be able to make new media equipment loans from the service desks in either library. 

If someone has equipment that is due back, they should hold onto this equipment until the campus reopens. There will be no charges or strikes levied in light of current events. Students and colleagues should remain safely at home. We will contact people who have equipment when we begin normal operations again.

Regrettably we can no longer maintain a grab and go service at our food courts and these will remain shut to all students and staff until further notice.

Leeds Beckett University sports facilities are closed until further notice. We will continue to update all customers and will re-open at the earliest possible opportunity. 

The Sports & Active Lifestyles team, however, are offering free live fitness classes on Facebook that are being delivered by our instructors from their homes.

If you have any further enquiries please contact sport@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

We understand that this situation is unsettling. The university offers student money advice and our advisors are available to provide guidance and support, please call 0113 812 5593 or request a call back via MyHub.

The university’s hardship fund remains open to enrolled students. Information and details on how to apply are available through the Student Hub.

As with all other applications to the Hardship Fund, we will assess applications on a case by case basis and we are encouraging students to apply if you have been affected financially by Coronavirus (COVID-19) in any way, lost wages, additional costs or rent, or no access to IT or broadband, for example. Applications can be submitted through our website.

Although the Students' Union helpdesks and the Hive are closed until further notice, SU services are still available. More information is available on the LBSU website.

Leeds Beckett University is proud to be a diverse and inclusive global community.

We realise that there is the possibility that current events may cause an increase in incidents of racial harassment, aggression or abuse which some students and colleagues might face. This is completely unacceptable.

There is no place for behaviour which undermines the dignity and human rights of other members of the community. We have a zero tolerance approach to racial harassment, aggression or abuse.

We encourage anyone experiencing or witnessing inappropriate behaviour to report it to the university, so that action can be taken. If you feel you need support, please contact the Student Hub.

We understand that you may feel concerned about your child attending university. We are monitoring the changing situation closely. The university takes the health of its students and colleagues very seriously and is working hard to provide our students and colleagues with up to date information and advice.

As the national picture evolves we will continue to respond in line with Government advice.

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a new helpline to answer questions about Coronavirus (COVID-19) related to education, which some parents may find helpful.

Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.Coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk.

The helpline is open from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday.

The health and safety of colleagues who are temporarily working from home is of importance to us. This abridged version of the Leeds Beckett University risk assessment for Home Working provides a checklist of factors to be aware of:

• be mindful of how to handle heavy items at home (exam papers, stationery, quantities of photocopying, filing etc)
• individuals with health conditions, previous back injuries, new and expectant mothers, etc, should assess the need for handling items
• be mindful of posture when setting up and using a laptop
• ensure that sufficient/frequent short breaks are taken to avoid prolonged periods without change of posture
• ensure your working environment is free from hazards such as trailing cables
• visually check any electrical cables or items to ensure they are free from obvious defects such as cuts/damage
• it is a mutual responsibility of the manager and team member to ensure regular contact is maintained
• as far as practicably possible, managers have a duty to ensure that remote workers do not contravene the Working Time Regulations and colleagues should report any concerns about excessive working hours to their manager

You should let your manager know if you experience issues relating to your health and safety when working from home.

Safety and security of LBU information, systems and equipment

• ensure that work is not viewed by others at home
• store any sensitive information securely at home

Any temporary changes to work patterns will be noted and retained by your line manager, but will not be recorded on your iTrent system record at the present time.

Colleagues who have agreed reasonable adjustments in place to support a physical or mental health condition should initially discuss how these will be managed at home with their line manager. As far as is practically possible, adjustments should be continued at home, through appropriate risk assessments. Further advice can be sought from Occupational Health, please discuss with your line manager if this is required.

Although we are experiencing un-precedented constraints on our day to day lives, both within and outside of work, and heightened worry for ourselves, our family and friends, you  are still expected to continue to treat other colleagues with respect, tolerance and dignity at all times.

Further guidance for managers regarding managing team members who are working from home is available on our HR webpages.

If managers have any questions that aren’t covered by this guidance, they should contact the HR team via the dedicated phone line – 0113 812 6100 or by emailing employeerelationsteam@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

The Major Incident Team, in conjunction with the wider HR team, will continue to monitor government and Public Health England advice and guidance. This may result in changes to these guidelines over the coming months. This is a fast-changing situation and we will provide as much notice as reasonably necessary to any changes made. However, given that developments can occur overnight as we move through the pandemic period, we may not always be in a position to do so. 

The Government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

As the university expands and embeds its remote working capabilities, the overall surface area of risk widens, and mobile working and remote access has potential to increase the threats to the security of the personal information that we work with.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the independent data protection regulator in the UK, is taking a proportionate approach to the pandemic and organisations are being urged to do the same.

In short, there are no barriers in data protection law to prevent more frequent remote working, or the use of personal devices. However, the university has a responsibility to consider the security implications of homeworking, and the need for any risk mitigation.

Along with this the university may need to collect and use personal information about individuals in order to deal with Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, it is important not to forget that, although this could be a time-sensitive issue, the requirements of data protection law will still apply to any personal information that the University uses for these purposes.

When using information about individuals for the purposes of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak, the golden rule to remember is that the position under law has not changed. Although this is a novel factual scenario, the same principles and considerations will apply around the principles of:

• Lawfulness, fairness and transparency
• Purpose limitation
• Data minimisation
• Accuracy
• Storage limitation
• Integrity and confidentiality (security)

We have added to our overarching privacy notices explaining how the university will collect, use and protect data specifically with regards to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

A Data Protection Impact Assessment has also been carried out and further information on handling information safely while home working is available on the university’s Data Protection page.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you must stay at home in accordance with the Public Health England (PHE) guidance. 

If you are unfit to work due to a diagnosis of COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms, you can self-certify for a period in excess of seven days, even if you have not attended a GP surgery or hospital due to the risk of further infection.

You must inform your manager on the first day of any period of absence, explaining you are absent and for how long you  expect to be absent – in line with the relvant PHE/NHS guidance provided at that time.  Your manager will follow the normal absence recording procedures.

If you are absent due to a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 or because you have COVID-19 symptoms, it will not count towards absence thresholds.

Our HR team has prepared a guide on how to put absence related to Coronavirus into iTrent.

If there are members of your household with symptoms, you must follow the PHE stay at home guidance and inform your line manager as soon as possible. If you do not have symptoms and are able to work from home, then you should discuss this with your manager who will instruct you on your duties during your period of self-isolation. If you are not able to work from home then you should still stay at home in accordance with the guidance. You will not be financially disadvantaged if you are not able to work during self-isolation. Our HR team has prepared a guide on how to put absence related to Coronavirus into iTrent.

If you’re at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable), you’re advised to stay at home and avoid any face-to-face contact to protect yourself. This is called ‘shielding’. Government guidance can be found on the Government website.

As long are you are healthy you should work from home if your job enables you to do so.

You should let your line manager know that you need to ‘shield’ so that you can discuss your needs and the implications when more is known about a return to campus.

If you’re at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable), you’re advised to follow the advice on social distancing. Government guidance can be found on the NHS website.

You should let your line manager know that you fall into this category so that you can discuss your needs and the implications when more is known about a return to campus.

Information and guidance is available on the HR homepage and on the colleagues tab of this page, which will continue to be updated. Most wellbeing support and resources are available remotely through the staff intranet pages and Health Assured continue to run the Employee Assistance Programme helpline as normal. The Chaplaincy Service also offers support to all colleagues. 

Occupational Health is continuing to provide a remote service, with all consultations being undertaken by telephone. The occupational health physician and the physiotherapy services are also available remotely. Online classes and fitness tips to help your physical wellbeing have been offered via Sport and Active Lifestyles.

It’s important that we continue to take regular leave even if colleagues are unable to get away, as this will allow appropriate rest and recuperation. The expectation is that colleagues will take their leave entitlement in the current leave year.

You should talk with your line manager about how you might schedule your annual leave. For example, it may suit some colleagues to take leave in short bursts, such as one or two days per week.

The usual policy is that colleagues can carry forward up to 5 days’ (pro-rated) accrued untaken leave to their next leave year and use it by a specified date (depending on the date on which their leave year ends), if their line manager agrees. If you are unwell with symptoms of COVID-19 during booked annual leave, you may carry forward up to 5 days (pro-rated) accrued untaken leave to your next leave year. Such leave can be taken at any time during your next leave year, but it cannot be carried forward again to the following leave year.

If you are unable to take planned leave:

• at the request of your line manager, because you need to cover someone else’s role when they are ill and there are no other reasonable options available; or
• as a result of the four-week extension to all deadlines originally due or set between Monday 23 March and the end of the assessment period for your particular subject or School, then you may carry forward up to 10 days’ (pro-rated) accrued untaken leave to your next leave year. This can be taken at any time during your next leave year, following agreement with your line manager. It cannot be carried forward again to the following leave year.

These are unusual circumstances and many colleagues will not be able to take planned holidays away from home. However, we need to make sure that colleagues still take regular leave even if they are unable to get away, as this will allow appropriate rest and recuperation.  

Rather than cancelling annual leave, you should talk with your line manager about how you might schedule your annual leave over the coming months, for example, it may suit some colleagues to take leave in short bursts, such as one or two days per week. If your line manager is agreeable to it being changed, then they will need to update ITrent.

It is important that we continue to take regular leave, as this will allow appropriate rest and recuperation. Booking leave will give you protected time, where you and your line manager know that you will not be available for work.

You should talk with your line manager about how you might schedule your annual leave over the coming months, for example, it may suit some colleagues to take leave in short bursts, such as one or two days per week.

This guidance takes precedence over the university’s other published policies, until the university advises otherwise.

In order to keep our community safe, our students supported and our core services functioning we will all need to work together, and perhaps do new and different things, as appropriate. We will accommodate flexible working wherever possible.

Your line manager will discuss what is most appropriate to your team, your circumstances and your role. It may be necessary for your line manager to ask you to work flexibly in order to protect yourself and others, whilst enabling the University to continue to operate. You may be asked to undertake responsibilities that are appropriate to your role if other colleagues are not able to work.

If you have caring responsibilities, or your home environment means that working to your usual pattern is difficult, you should discuss this with your line manager to agree the best way for you to meet these responsibilities, whilst working from home or on campus.

Once you book a slot, you will receive a confirmation that is unique to the building you intend to visit to outline the process of entering/exiting that building.

This is an opportunity to collect small IT items such as your monitor and mouse plus any personal items from your office.

If you would also like a chair, please make a separate booking for chair collection (this is from Headingley Campus only). If you require a keyboard, please email conferences@leedsbeckett.ac.uk to arrange for one to be sent in the post. 

Yes. Should you experience any issues when connecting the keyboard to your home device you can arrange support through the IT Service Desk.

You will need to take the power and connection cables that are connected to the monitor so that you can set it up at home. Connection cables might be securely attached to the PC by screws or buttons which should be released before you disconnect the cable. Take the power lead for the monitor but leave your PC’s main power lead plugged in as well as the keyboard so they can be operated remotely if required. You may need an additional adaptor or support when setting up your monitor at home, in which case please contact the IT Service Desk.

You may require an additional adaptor which can be ordered through the IT Service Desk.

If you require an occupational health chair or other large equipment please email conferences@leedsbeckett.ac.uk who will assist you with arranging the collection of these items.

Collection and sanitation has been performed by our Portering colleagues who have been supplied with the relevant PPE to ensure minimal contact between themselves and the chairs.

Once chairs have been collected from around campus all hard surfaces have been thoroughly sanitised. They have then been contained and quarantined for 72 hours meaning that any potential traces of the virus on the upholstery will no longer be present.

We are working to find a solution to this – more information will follow soon.

To access any other buildings that are not listed please email your request to conferences@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. We will be happy to assist you with your request.

If you are having trouble finding a convenient date and time please email conferences@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. We will be happy to assist you with your request.

Security will be monitoring and patrolling areas during these collection periods and will also be the key responder if you have any difficulties whilst in the building. This may be a fire alarm activation, first aid incident or lift entrapment.

In the event of a fire alarm activation, please go to your nearest exit and then move to the normal assembly point for your building, security will attend and check the building and confirm if it’s safe to come back into the building.

Please call Security on 0113 812 4444, who will respond and support.

We're busy working on the plan to reopen our Library buildings, and to welcome you back on campus safely. This will happen in several stages with the health and safety of students and university staff as the most important factor.

The first stage was to make provision for you to return books on loan and you can now do that. The next is for Library staff to be back on campus, initially behind the scenes, to start up a "click and collect" service for you to borrow books in August (date to be confirmed). We'll then open the Libraries from 1 September for you to study by booking a space.

In the meantime we're working on movement routes, protocols for shared use of books and equipment, booking systems and safe staff working arrangements.

The Library service is still open online with the Library website giving you access to thousands of electronic resources and online help and support.

Leeds Beckett University sports facilities are closed until further notice. We will continue to update all customers and will re-open at the earliest possible opportunity. 

The Sports & Active Lifestyles team, however, are offering free live fitness classes on Facebook that are being delivered by our instructors from their homes.

If you have any further enquiries please contact sport@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

The Mail Rooms at Headingley and City Campus remain closed until further notice. Mail received is being stored securely at each campus via both security receptions.

Colleagues are advised to make alternative arrangements for mail where possible.

If business critical items have been delivered to the university, please make arrangements for collection from either the James Graham or Leslie Silver Security desks. Please consider carefully what is classed as business critical.

Contact security via: security@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or by calling X4444

If you have further queries please contact CAREShelpdesk@leedsbeckett.ac.uk  

Regrettably we can no longer maintain a grab and go service at our food courts and these will remain shut to all students and staff from Tuesday 24 March until further notice.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has changed its advice on travel and advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Until further notice the university no longer requires colleagues to undertake business travel in the UK or overseas. We will also aim, as far as possible, to move meetings online by using Skype or other technology solutions to reduce unnecessary social contact.

Mentoring

Please email ubcleeds@leedsbeckett.ac.uk if you would like to book an appointment with our business mentor, qualified accountant, Steve Baker.

Legal

University Business Centre partners, Lupton Fawcett, have legal advice on their blog pages.

IT

Care Micro can provide IT support and can support in setting up networks from home, please email ithelpdesk@caremicro.co.uk.

The Government has announced a business support campaign and published guidance for employers and businesses, support for businesses and for those affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Guidance on reducing the risks from Coronavirus (COVID-19) is also available from the National Federation of Self-Employed and Small Businesses (FSB).

Additional advice is available from the Government’s Business Support website.

The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) introduced by the Government will support self-employed individuals whose income has been negatively impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19). You can find more information on eligibility and how to access the scheme on the Government website.

Refer to gov.uk/coronavirus for the latest information from the Government on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Government has also set up an email alert system which you can sign up to here.

Our usual security protocols are in place, all buildings have been locked down and will have a daily sweep by our designated security teams at each centre. Additionally, each building has intruder alarms set.

There are no plans to turn off or reduce the capacity of the network at any of our centres. If there are any issues with the network our IT support will investigate but please be aware they are working with a reduced team onsite, so it may take slightly longer than our SLA stated period during this emergency.

We will follow advice from the Government and Public Health England, we will continue to liaise with you.

We are reviewing whether if it is possible to provide a brief window to open Leeds and Wakefield to clients who have an urgent reason to access their space. Any clients that require this are asked to email: ubcleeds@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. We will work with you to assess the urgency, safety and need on a case by case basis. We understand that this is a very difficult time and we will do our best to accommodate any requests where it is possible and safe to do so.

Halifax University Business Centre will not be accessible during our closures due to health and safety compliance limitations.

Wakefield: 
We are currently exploring the ability to have client post re-posted to client home addresses. We hope to be in a position to advise on this soon. Please note that if you prefer that post is not re-sent to your home address in the event of this solution being put in place, please advise at ubcleeds@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. Once the post has been re-posted it will be dependent on the Royal Mail’s ability to deliver and not within our control.

Leeds:
Post can be collected from the Security Office located on Woodhouse Lane in the Leslie Silver Building. Currently all post due to be delivered by Royal Mail from Tuesday 24 March has been sent to the University Security office. We are still looking at a safe method to hand out any post that was already held in the reception office at University Business Centre Leeds 15 Queen Square. If you need to contact security please email security@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or call 0113 812 4444.

Halifax:
Post will remain in Royal Mail's possession. We are still looking at a safe method to forward any post that was already held in Admin at University Business Centre Halifax.

 

University Business Centre clients are urged to contact their suppliers and customers and to make alternative arrangements for mail such as redirection, holding mail, sending digitally or paying electronically, in order to minimise the amount of unnecessary contact and travel.

Please see the letter sent via email to you on 31 March 2020.

Please see the letter sent via email to you on 31 March 2020. There is no necessity for any clients to relinquish any space whilst our Business Centres close due to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

We are looking into secure ways that we can comply with GDPR to provide this. Early suggestions are if people are happy to email their approval to hand out their mobile numbers we can create a WhatsApp group for each centre, but we are happy to look at further suggestions that could make this possible and please continue to email us at ubcleeds@leedsbeckett.ac.uk with your ideas and suggestions for other innovative ways of staying in touch.

We are working to provide you with as much clarity as possible and with the assurance that we are planning ahead for the start of the new academic year at Beckett. At present:

• We intend to start the new academic year as planned in September.
• We are developing a range of ways to provide you with the excellent higher education experience you expect – all of which will be in accordance with social distancing measures.
• We are also investing to make sure that you have access to the technologies you will need to learn both face-to-face and online.

Of course, we will keep in touch with you over the next few weeks as our plans develop and as the government makes further announcements.

We are currently taking all the measures necessary to protect our staff and students, for example our teaching is being carried out online. Students joining us in September can be sure that we will follow all Government advice and not put our students at risk.

We will keep fully up to speed with the situation and will keep you informed should this become likely. We will have contingency plans in place to ensure you can join us at Leeds Beckett.

If you have a specific query about your application, you can contact the Admissions Enquiries Team via AdmissionsEnquiries@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or by calling 0113 812 3113. If you are a research student (eg applying for a Phd, Professional Doctorate such as EdD, DBA, or  research masters, MRes) please contact researchadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or call 0113 8129396. If you are an international applicant, please contact our International Office: internationaloffice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

Unfortunately due to social distancing requirements, we have had to cancel our campus-based Open Day. However, we are currently working on plans for an Online Open Day so that you will still be able to find out about courses you are interested in, ask teaching staff and current students any questions you may have and find out about life at Leeds Beckett, such as information on what support is available and accommodation options. More information will be provided to students in the next couple of weeks.

The Government has written a message to all GCSE, AS and A level students explaining how their grades will be calculated. You can read the letter, which was published on 3 April, on the UK Government website.

Full time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate applicants can still apply for student finance as normal for the 2020/21 academic year. While there is no deadline to apply for student finance, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to guarantee your funding will be ready for the start of the academic year.

If you require any further information regarding student finance you can access our Student Money Advice webpage which has all of the latest guidance, tips and support available.

You can also find a list of FAQs on the Student Finance England website.

If the current academic year for your course gets extended, meaning your course lasts longer than 30 weeks and 3 days Student Finance England will assess you to see if you qualify for a ‘Long Courses Loan’. However, if you are granted an extension that is individual to you, Student Finance England will use the original course length.

The Long Courses Loan is part of the Maintenance Loan, so to be eligible you must be getting the extra Maintenance Loan that depends on your household income.

We are continuing to process all applications as we would normally, regardless of where you are from or where you live. All our staff based in Leeds and across the world continue to be available to support you.

Yes, If you are unable to join us at Leeds Beckett University in September, we will refund your deposit or you can defer it to a later intake.

We understand that due to school and university closures, many countries are unable to conduct exams in a normal manner. We are continuing to work with the UK Visas and Immigration Office (UKVI) and the UK government to understand what flexibility we may be able to provide regarding academic qualifications we will accept. Contact your regional representative to inform them of your situation.

We are aware that the position of English Language test centres is rapidly changing as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We are now accepting alternative online testing options so that you may continue to apply:

• IELTS Indicator online test results will now be accepted. The requirements are the same as the standard IELTS test scores.
• Duolingo English language test online results will now be accepted.
• TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition online test results will now be accepted.

Please refer to our full English Language Requirements to view the scores we will accept.

The webpages below are being regularly updated with the latest advice for candidates. We recommend that applicants review the information below:

• TOEFL
• IELTS

You may also wish to consider one of our Pre-Sessional English courses if you need to improve your English language skills before starting your chosen degree.

Please contact our International Office: internationaloffice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. If you are a research student (eg applying for a Phd, Professional Doctorate such as EdD, DBA, or a research masters MRes) please contact researchadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or call 0113 8129396